50 Plus

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Big Mushroom, Big Flavor Chef Diane offers up a stuffed Portobello dish.

Pg. 5

Memory Medic

Poor sleep can have negative impacts on memory.

Pg. 2

October 2011 • Vol. 4, issue 6 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station eagle

Surviving and Thriving Localsurvivors sharetheirstories andsupport PAGE 8

50plus

CONTENTS Bradway: Physical Therapy Month

4

Financial Literacy: Holiday Spending

4

Chef Diane: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

5

Feature: Senior rides every Texas county

6

Cover: Surviving and Thriving

8

Calendar

14

Calendar events

October 2011

Do you have an event you’d like on the 50plus calendar? Email it to billy.mau@theeagle.com (subject line:50plus calendar) or fax it to 979-774-0053 (attn Billy Mau). Calendar space is first-come-first-served.

50plus is a monthly publication of Bryan-College Station Communications Inc. 1729 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, Texas

PUBLISHER Jim Wilson

The Eagle • theeagle.com

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR Billy Mau billy.mau@theeagle.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER Joanne R. Patranella joanne.patranella@theeagle.com

SPECIAL PROJECTS/MARKETING COORDINATOR Dawn Goodall dawn.goodall@theeagle.com

For more information on 50plus advertising opportunities, call the Advertising Department at 979-731-4738

Studies show memory, sleep problems may go together Have you developed sleep difficulties as you have grown older? Experts say that with age a person is more likely to have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep without interruption through the night.

Does it matter? I mean, besides the inconvenience, how can this be a big problem? Recent research indicates that fragmented sleep harms memory. We all know that our memories start to slip as we get older. Now we know that fragmented sleep could be one of the causes.

Animal studies at Stanford revealed that disrupting sleep made it harder for the animals to recognize familiar objects, even though the experimental disruption was done in a way that total sleep time was about the same as normal. Comparable studies need to be done in humans.

Common natural causes of fragmented sleep in

older humans are alcohol abuse and sleep apnea.

Also, in males, enlarged prostate causes a need for frequent urination. As I have explained in several of my learning and memory blog posts (thankyoubrain. blogspot.com), learning events during the day are consolidated into lasting form during the sleep at dr. BiLL KLeMM night of the The memory meDic same day. We don’t know exactly how sleep helps, but obviously, you have far fewer mental distractions during sleep — unless, of course you keep waking up.

Alzheimer’s Disease also causes fragmented sleep.

So, it is no surprise that the brain degeneration by the disease would cause memory problems. But maybe, just maybe, it is the fragmented sleep that accelerates onset

of Alzheimer’s disease.

Remember from my last column, I presented evidence that most older people have the brain lesions of Alzheimer’s Disease, even though they may not yet be clinically ill.

Now, this seemingly ridiculous possibility has to be taken seriously in light of new research showing that sleep-disordered breathing, as in sleep apnea, seems to increase the risk of mental decline and even dementia in older women. As we age, tissue in the back of the throat tends to lose muscle tone and during sleep, and the muscle tone may collapse during sleep to thus allow the tissues to blanket the airway to the lungs. The reflex system controlling breathing may also shut down. When such things happen in sleep, the brain

See Memory Medic page 10

ACCESS REMODELING Certified Aging In Place Specialist

Bathrooms, Kitchens, Grab Bars Walk-In Showers & Tubs, Vanities, Counter – Tops Flush Door Thresholds, Door Resizing Ramps, Handrails, Visual and Hearing Impaired WE CAN MAKE YOUR HOME ACCESSIBLE AND BEAUTIFULL SO YOU CAN ENJOY IT FOR YEARS TO COME

Free Quotes & Insured, Ask for Richard with Richmon Homes 979-731-1134 or www.richmonhomes.com

BEFORE

First

Presbyterian Church Bryan, Texas

Sunday Church School - 9:30am Sunday Worship Services - 10:45am 1100 Carter Creek Pkwy • 979-823-8073 www.fpcbryan.org 2

AFTER

For the last 20 years, JEA Senior Living has been doing what we do best, and that is taking care of seniors. At Hudson Creek we specialize in Alzheimer and Dementia care, and we pride ourselves in providing outstanding care in a warm homelike environment. Our hope is that you will recognize our commitment through our quality of care.

Accepting Residents!

Call Today for More Information and to Schedule a Tour!

3850 Coppercrest Drive • Bryan, TX 979-774-0700 • www.jeaseniorliving.com

DADS License #102654

The Eagle • theeagle.com

• Pre-admission home visit and assessment.

• Licensed nurse on site 24 hours a day.

• Specially trained staff assist with all aspects of care while maximizing and encouraging independence.

• A fully supervised, success-oriented activities program offered everyday.

• Regularly scheduled social events with family involvement welcomed.

• Three nutritious meals served daily, with snacks available throughout the day.

• Supervised outings to nearby points of interest.

• Furnished linens and routine housekeeping.

• Comfortable, attractively decorated living rooms, activity rooms and private conversation areas.

• Cable TV and fireplace in living rooms.

• Beautifully landscaped secured courtyard with walking areas.

• Individualized service plans.

• Electronically monitored security system.

• TV and phone outlets in all resident rooms.

• Support groups, educational programs and referral services.

October 2011

Life at Hudson Creek offers these amenities for one monthly fee:

50plus

A Heartfelt Choice

3

50plus October 2011 The Eagle • theeagle.com

National Physical Four tips to avoid a holiday Therapy Month spending hangover this year going on now Physical therapy should be your first defense after an injury or when experiencing pain as it represents a conservative, natural, noninvasive treatment option that has a proven track record of success. Often, however, the course of treatment for pain and/ or injury is to prescribe Leon Bradway medication and Physical TheraPy if that doesn’t work suggest surgery or suggest that there is nothing else that can be done and thus the patient must live with the pain or limited mobility.

Physical therapy should be considered before surgery, regular medication or giving up on relief. The efficacy of physical therapy in helping patients is proven. Patients can reduce or eliminate pain, increase their mobility, enhance their balance, reduce incontinence and help prevent future injuries by seeking physical therapy treatments.

So why aren’t all patients going to physical therapy before surgery and

medication are suggested?

Why are patients who have never seen a therapist, told there is nothing more that can be done to help them?

Part of the problem is due to the misconception providers and patients have regarding what a physical therapist can do. The misconception stems from a lack of current information about the physical therapy field.

Over the last 30 years, a transformation has occurred in the field. This is true in the education and training of therapists, as well as their involvement in research and the movement in the field to use evidence based treatment approaches. For example, 30 years ago, most physical therapy programs were bachelor programs. Today, all physical therapists graduate from doctorate programs.

As with any provider, there may be differences in education, skill, experience, and training. It is important to ask questions when

Like it or not, the holiday season is upon us. I see Santa figurines and miniature snow villages in the stores.

Pull out your credit cards.

It is open season for holiday spending.

Wait! Let’s not rush things. Take a moment to imagine how contented you would feel if you didn’t get a “Holiday Spending Hangover” this coming January. Sounds good? Okay then, let’s do a little prep work.

Review What You Bought Last Year

Dig out your credit card bills from November and December 2010 and January 2011. If you didn’t keep them, go online and print copies.

Mark them up. Make notes of what you bought for whom.

If you cannot remember, then just circle the ones you think were for holiday spending. Now, identify your non-gift holiday spending.

That would include holiday cards, giftwrap, decorations, hostess gifts and hosting your own get-togethers.

Grab your check register for the same months. Repeat the circling and notation thing.

Add up last year’s holiday spending.

No, you cannot skip this step and just Tracy STewarT guess. Of Financial liTeracy my clients who guess, ninety-nine percent end up with estimates that are half of their true spending.

When you get the true total, write it down. We are going to aim for a lower number this year.

buy gifts this year. Make another list for the same kind of non-gift holiday spending that you identified for last year.

Now go down the list and put dollars next to each item. If you are comfortable with a spreadsheet, use that for convenience. Total the dollars. Not below last year’s total? Trim the dollars here and there. Keep working on this until your spending plans are comfortably below last year’s numbers.

Oh, I need to tell you one of the rules. Your total has to be a number that allows you to pay for all of this with cash or an amount on a credit card that you can pay in full when the bill comes due.

Now you are ready to start brainstorming what

Make a List and Check It Twice

Now make a list of everyone for whom you’ll

See Stewart page 11

Expanding our services to better meet your needs We would like to introduce you to you our Medical Directors....

See Bradway page 11

Dr. Mark Florian, MD Medical Director

President of Brazos-Robertson County Medical Society President of Brazos Valley Physicians Organizatiom Board Chaiman of The Physicans Centre Hospital

Dr. Denise Turner, MD

Associate Medical Director

Board Certified in Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Care and Family Medicine

....And Our Team Of Caring Professionals.

Texas Home Health Hospice offers Physician home visits upon admission with follow up visits in your home as needed.

Our hospice team is available 24/7

4

When you call Texas Home Health Hospice after hours an experienced hospice RN will triage your call at once. No delays. No answering service For more information call 1-877-747-3860

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Sausage and Spinach

Portobello mushrooms serve as a delicious base for this dish.The sausage and spinach stuffing adds a flavorful kick that is sure to please at supper time. removed and discarded • 2 tablespoons olive oil – divided use • 2/3 cup onions, finely chopped • 1/2 pound Italian sausage or Italian

Senior Circle is out to expand your horizons with an exciting calendar of events scheduled around town and around the world.

If you’re 50 or better, want to meet new people, learn more about your health, travel and just have fun, then Senior Circle is for you.

Dues are just $15 a year.

To join or for more information, call Mandy Williams at 979-764-5107 or visit CSMedCenter.com.

Become part of the Circle.

Waterways of Holland and Belgium: Tulips, Windmills & Canals March 26 – April 8, 2012 Join Senior Circle on this European river cruise and explore the majestic waterways of Holland and Belgium. Meet new friends and make memories on this exciting 14-day adventure.

Northwest National Parks • July 13 – 26, 2012 Escape the blistering heat of Texas with Senior Circle as we explore magnificent Northwest National Parks such as Glacier National Park, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park and many more. This 14-day adventure takes us through Seattle, Montana, British Columbia and other destinations, with special visits including the Lonesome Dove Ranch and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens.

Classic Christmas Markets • November 28 – December 6, 2012 Treat yourself for Christmas and join Senior Circle as we explore the classic Christmas markets in Munich, Innsbruck, Wurzburg, Nuremberg and Strasbourg.

This nine-day adventure takes us to historic towns in Central Europe where we will have time to shop for handicrafts and experience delights such as a private choir performance in an 850-year-old church. Call Senior Circle for more details.

turkey sausage • 2 cups baby spinach • 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs • 1-2 cloves garlic, pressed

Diane Lestina, a certified personal chef, holds cooking classes and cooks for residents in the Bryan-College Station area. To learn more, visit www.chefdiane.com

Come play with someone your own age!

The Eagle • theeagle.com

• 4 medium or 2 large portobello mushrooms, cleaned and stems and “gills”

• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded Brush the portobello mushrooms with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill or broil the mushrooms over high heat, turning occasionally, until softened, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate, stem side down; let drain and cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and sausage and cook over moderate heat until sausage is cooked, about 10-12 minutes. Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.

Transfer mixture to a bowl and add bread crumbs, cheese, and garlic.

Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 325°. Spoon mixture into the mushrooms, mounding it slightly. Transfer the mushrooms to a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.

Serves 2

October 2011

Portobello mushrooms are actually cremini mushrooms that have achieved a size of 4-6 inches.

They have a nice meaty texture and flavor. Look for firm and solid mushrooms, and avoid limp and dried-out looking ones.

Portobellos will keep 5 days in the refrigerator once removed from their wrapping and set (unwashed) on a tray covered with paper toweling.

If you know you have a busy afternoon, you can diane LeSTina prepare this dish cook iT simPle early in the day, www.cheFDiane.com refrigerate, and bake when you are ready for dinner.

Allow it to come to room temperature before baking or add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Panko breadcrumbs can be found in the Asian section of the supermarket but you can also use fresh breadcrumbs.

50plus

Enjoy the big flavor of portobello mushrooms

Sponsored by

1 6 0 4 R o c k P ra i r i e R o a d • C S M e d C e n t e r. c o m Official Healthcare Provider for Texas A&M Athletics

5

50plus

Biker completes two-year ride through all 254 Texas counties

By HELENE BURNETT

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2011

Special to The Eagle

Rained out on his way to a motorcycle rally at Daytona in 2009, J.D. Massingill “decided to see things I’d never seen before.”

He started off on his ’97 Harley Road King Police Model to ride all 254 counties of Texas.

Gliding through Milam County on his current ride, a 2006 Harley, he finished on August 17, 2011.

It wasn’t all smooth going.

Traveling multiple counties a day, he’d check his map and sometimes find he’d missed a county. In the Panhandle, he had to back up 150 miles to catch one he missed. Heading off one day on a county road off I-10, he thought he saw a crossroad and ended up in the middle of a farmer’s field.

He carefully took down a section of fence, rolled his bike through, repaired the fence, and roared back to the highway again.

In February 2010, headed home again, he spent three days in Waco during a freeze. Back

on the road when the weather cleared, a woman in a car stopped short in front of him and he went down, resulting in a trip to the hospital.

Traveling on his own, he followed his own schedule, as he also did contract work during the two years it took to complete his ride. On his best day he logged 28 counties for a total of 400 miles.

Massingill is a savvy senior, too. He fuels his bike using an airline credit card, earning air miles as he travels the roads and highways.

His only concession to making this ride in his 70’s was to spend nights in motels. When he rode the U.S in his 60’s, he spent nights in a sleeping bag in RV parks or in the wild. He says he likes his comforts now.

He would return to his home in Farmer’s Branch after each trip to color in the counties he finished on a large wall map. The variety of Texas lands amazed him. As he progressed through Texas, he discovered that

FREE

“different parts of the state look like different states.”

“I traveled through 40 states in my pick-up truck, and hadn’t talked to ten people,” J.D. reminisced,” but lots of folks stopped to talk on my bike trips.

They were talking to the bike.”

Leaving a warehouse store with supplies for his trip, he found an 80-year-old woman standing in front of his Harley, staring. One of her past boyfriends used to have a Harley, she told him. They talked Harleys for nearly thirty minutes before she let him get back on the road. She was smiling as she got in her car; which made the day special for him.

J.D. has no plans to give up the road any time soon. When asked what his plans were as he threw his leg over his gleaming Road King. “Maybe I’ll ride all of New Mexico, or maybe Oklahoma,” he pondered. “Over 100,000 miles without a flat tire,” he chuckled, as he pulled back onto the 71-year-old J.D. Massingill recently completed his goal of riding through every county in Texas that he started highway. in 2009. His trip took him through as many as 28 counties in a day.

90-Day Trial

on all digital hearing devices And FREE Batteries for Life!

Ronny Baker B.S.,A.C.A. 2805 Earl Rudder Freeway S. College Station • 979.680.8808 centraltexasent.com 2010 Business Performance Award

6

Over 30 Years Experience Caring for the Hearing Needs of the Brazos Valley

Check Moles for Alphabetical Clues

Beat Hypertension With Food Altering your diet to control cholesterol has become a sensible approach. Doing it to control blood pressure doesn’t seem quite so straightforward.

Yet food can have a direct effect on blood pressure, according to the Harvard Heart Letter.

Reducing your salt intake often reduces blood pressure. But fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, beans, nuts, whole-grain carbohydrates, and unsaturated fats also have healthful effects on blood pressure.

These foods set the foundation for an all-round healthful eating strategy that is good for blood pressure and much more.

A healthful diet is an excellent initial treatment when blood pressure creeps into the unhealthy zone, and a perfect partner for medications.

for over 25 years.

Cataract Screening & Surgery Diabetic Eye Exam Routine Eye Exams In-Office Laser Surgery Lasik/PRK Refractive Surgery Contact Lenses & Glasses

979-776-7564

or 1-800-338-7864

MARR EYE CENTER William H. Marr, M.D., P.A. Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthamology

Jamie Houser, O.D.

2801 East 29th at Memorial Drive • Bryan WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS, WE’RE THE ONES TO SEE

Isle at Watercrest–Bryan

I

sle at Watercrest – a new assisted living and skilled nursing community – is now open! At this beautifullydesigned community, residents enjoy supportive services to maintain the highest level of independence. Isle at Watercrest offers everything you need in one place, including the right amount of assistance when and where you need it, practical conveniences and enjoyable activities and amenities, featuring:

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Mature Life Features

Vision for the way you live.

Proudly serving the Brazos Valley

October 2011

It’s not always practical to head to the doctor’s office every time a new spot shows up on your skin.

But there are ways to help evaluate whether the spot or mole deserves special attention, according to Dr. Clay Cockerell, a dermapathologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, whose laboratory evaluates suspicious skin biopsies.

“If you have concerns, it’s worth having your physician take a look, but there are certain indicators, dubbed the ABCDE’s of skin cancer, that signal the need for closer scrutiny from an expert,” said Cockerell.

Check all blemishes for: – Asymmetry, moles that don’t look the same on each side; – Borders on moles that are irregular, jagged or blurry; – Colors that are inconsistent, including areas that are darker; multiple colors, such as blue, purple, red, or gray, or colors that change; – Diameter of moles larger than a quarter inch or the head of a pencil eraser – Evolving lesions, namely,

lesions that are not stable and are changing, even if they are small.

“Any of those indicators individually and, certainly, together warrant a trip to the doctor,” said Cockerell.

50plus

HEALTH MATTERS

• Assisted Living & Skilled Nursing • Location adjacent to Watercrest at Bryan Active Adult Community • Progressive rehabilitation services & personalized care by professional, licensed staff • Nutritious meal selections served restaurant-style • Experienced management by Integrated Senior Living

New Fall Specials!

888-715-0566 isleatwatercrestbryan.com

BRYAN

4091 Eastchester Drive Bryan, Texas 77802

7

50plus

50plus

The Eagle • theeagle.com

9th Surviving & Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon – Tuesday, October 4, 2011 - 11:30 a.m. – CS Hilton and Conference Center. Co-founded by Suddenlink and St. Joseph Regional Health Center. Featuring Christine Clifford – a breast cancer survivor and President/CEO of The Cancer Club. ALL ticket proceeds remain in the Brazos Valley – supporting the St. Joseph Cancer Services and the American Cancer Society of the Brazos Valley. Over the past 8 years, Surviving & Thriving has raised over $300,000 for local breast cancer programs.

Pink-Out Kyle Field - TAMU vs. Missouri football game October 29. Breast cancer awareness effort in partnership with Aggieland Outfitters.

1st Annual Pink Alliance Golf Tournament at Pebble Creek Co-sponsored by Pebble Creek Country Club. Monday, November 14, 2011. $150 per golfer (team of 4 - $600). Tournament sponsorships available - $1,250+. Fabulous amenities - Over $3,000 in prizes. All proceeds benefit Pink Alliance, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that provides educational materials to recently diagnosed breast cancer patients and financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients, with all funds staying in the Brazos Valley. Contact Persons for Sponsors/Teams: Reba Ragsdale 979.229.1200, Nora Thompson 979.229.3862, Marilyn Byrne 979.777.6702, Patricia Gerling 979.224.3813 or Cheryl Pederson 979.777.9024. www.pinkalliance.org

Pink Alliance members (from left) Patricia Gerling, Reba Ragsdale and Thelma Isenhart have been instrumental in organizing this year’s Surviving and Thriving Luncheon

Local survivors bring their stories and support to Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By HOLLI L. ESTRIDGE Special to The Eagle

Patricia Gerling still remembers the way she felt Oct. 1, 2002 – the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month – when her doctor diagnosed her with breast cancer, following a routine mammogram.

“My mother was about 12 to 15 years out, and she had survived,” said Gerling, who was 42 years old at the time. “But no one’s ready to hear that word – cancer. You just get this lump in your throat.”

Her feelings changed on the way home from the surgeon’s office with husband David and over the coming weeks, as she considered her options.

GerlinG “I went to church and cried and prayed,” said Gerling. “I left there with a trust and faith. I was at peace with this. I knew I was going to be a survivor, like so many other people I knew. I was going to help others learn that you can’t be afraid of cancer.”

Gerling underwent aggressive therapy to treat the cancer – a bi-lateral mastectomy and six chemotherapy treatments – and she opted not to have reconstructive surgery.

“I wanted to treat the cancer as aggressively as I could, though I only had cancer cells in one of my breasts,” said Gerling.

Receiving her chemotherapy “cocktail” seated in a circle with other women in the oncology unit at St. Joseph Regional Health Center was a humbling experience, said Gerling.

“You almost become a family; you smile with each other,’ said Gerling. More than anything, patients wore their breast cancer survival with

pride, she said.

Nine years later, Gerling has passed additional screenings, showing no signs of cancer. But the College Station resident and a chair of the annual Surviving and Thriving luncheon said her life will never be the same.

“You take life with a different step each day,” said Gerling. “You hug your kids and your husband. You don’t take things for granted. It’s a celebration of life.”

She also donates her time to breast cancer awareness, fundraising and advocacy, also supporting the creation of additional resources for patients facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

One of the projects in which Gerling has been involved is the newly launched Pink Alliance, which will bring a breast cancer support group to Bryan-College Station. The group will meet 6:30-8 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, beginning Oct. 11 in The Bank & Trust location at 2900 S. Texas Ave. in Bryan.

“This will be a safe, inviting environment, where patients will be able to share their feelings and receive support,” said Gerling. “We will have guest speakers come in and provide resources and information. It will be free and open to patients and survivors, regardless of where they are receiving treatment.”

Surviving and Thriving Luncheon

Gerling also participates in organizing the Surviving & Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon and Fundraiser. The ninth-annual event will be held today at 11:30 a.m. (Oct. 4) at the College Station Hilton. Tickets are $40 each, with proceeds benefiting St. Joseph Cancer Services and the American Cancer Society Brazos Valley.

This year’s guest speaker is Christine Clifford, author of Not Now. . . I’m Having a No Hair Day! – a humorous portrayal of her bout with breast cancer. She is founder of The Cancer Club, a

company producing humorous and helpful products for people with cancer.

Erin Fleener, a medical oncologist at the Cancer Clinic and St. Joseph Cancer Center also will update guests on advances in breast cancer and cancer care in the Brazos Valley.

Launched in 2003, Suddenlink (then Cox Media) and St. Joseph Regional Health Center partnered with a local committee to raise funds locally.

The goal for the first event was the recognize local breast cancer survivors and provide benefit to breast cancer patients in the local community.

Money raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, raffle tickets and specialty items has provided direct support to the American Cancer Society Brazos Valley and St. Joseph Regional Cancer Services.

To date, the luncheon has raised nearly $300,000, which have supported development of a healing garden at St. Joseph and about 50 free scanning mammograms, offered through the “Think Pink” mammogram program.

The American Cancer Society also was able to serve more than 1,000 patients through its Bryan office, newly diagnose more than 600 patients and provide hundreds of bras, prosthesis, head coverings and wigs. Volunteers made more than 24 Reach to Recovery visits.

“The way people look at this disease today is different, and it’s because we are talking about it,” said Gerling. “We are allowing the public to embrace it, to know there is a good chance of survivorship – of beating this disease.”

Christine Clifford (left) will be the guest speaker at today’s Surviving and Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon and Fundraiser. Clifford chronicled her bout with breast cancer in her book Not Now...I’m Having a No Hair Day. She is also the founder of The Cancer Club, a company that produces humorous and helpful products for people with cancer.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

8

There are plenty of great events being held in October to raise breast cancer awareness and to help patients, survivors and their families.

Surviving and Thriving

October 2011

October 2011

Get Involved

9

from page 2

fails to get its needed oxygen supply, and reflex responses set in to compensate, such as raising blood pressure.

This pressure rise can damage kidneys and reset the brainstem control settings so that blood pressure is always high. When brain oxygen is too low for too long, it triggers a frantic brain arousal state to wake up enough to breathe, lest you die of asphyxiation.

These transient interruptions of sleep may occur numerous times at night, but a patient doesn’t remember it, because they typically go back to sleep, which prevents remembering the awakening.

A recent research report reveals that apnea-caused fragmented sleep is a special problem in older women. In a study spread out over as long as six years the investigators examined all-night sleep patterns in 298 women and then years later tested their cognitive function. The number who had apnea numbered 105, while 193 had normal sleep. Data analysis was adjusted for age, race, body-mass index, education level, smoking status,

presence of diabetes, presence of hypertension, medication use (antidepressants, benzodiazepines or other tranquilizers), and baseline cognitive scores.

After an average of 4.7 years, almost half of the women who had been diagnosed with apnea developed cognitive impairment or even dementia, while 31.1% of women the non-apnea women later developed cognitive impairment. The effect apparently was not due to the amount of fragmentation as such but rather to the extent of oxygen depletion and the total sleep time spent in apnea.

So the practical matter seems to be you needn’t worry just because you wake up frequently during the night.

But, if you do wake up often, you probably should go to a sleep lab and find out if you have an apnea problem. The treatment is simple (though uncomfortable at first): you simply sleep with a mask that delivers pressurized air throughout the night. It is worth the nuisance to lower your blood pressure, save the wear and tear on heart and kidneys, and reduce the odds of becoming demented.

ARE PAINFUL FEET AFFECTING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE? Dr. Robert Leisten, DPM • Dr. Amy Haase, DPM • Podiatrists - Foot Specialists

979-696-4080 or 979-774-3668 (FOOT) Visit our website at: www.diagnosticfootspecialists.com

FOOT HEALTH TIPS

50plus October 2011 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Memory Medic

BUNION ASK US ABOUT OUR NEW ‘MINI TIGHT ROPE’ PROCEDURE

• Fix bunions without having to be in a cast or boot for two months.

• We are the 1st in Bryan that performs this procedure.

• As seen on TV’s THE DOCTORS

NEW TREATMENT FOR HEEL PAIN & OTHER SOFT TISSUE INJURIES OF THE FOOT NOW AVAILABLE An innovative treatment for soft tissue injuries of the foot, using the patients own blood. This procedure offers a safer, less expensive and more effective alternative to invasive foot surgeries. This promising treatment will revolutionize the treatment of stubborn soft tissue injuries. There are various applications for this in the foot including planter fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis, ankle sprains and Achilles tendonitis. This treatment is extremely safe with minimal risk, can be done in our office resulting in faster healing and recovery.

HAMMERTOE

INGROWN TOENAIL

Hammertoes are a contracture of the toe caused by an inherited muscle imbalance or too short of shoes. Painful corns form when these toes rub against the tops of shoes. These can be corrected by an office procedure in less than one hour.

Ingrown toenails cause pain from toenail pressing into skin aggravated by shoe gear. They are caused by the thickening or increased curvature of toenail. They can be progressively more painful with possible infection. They can be cured permanently with a minor office procedure.

Covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid ♦ Board certified foot specialist ♦ No hospitalization required Treatment of bunions, heel pain, corns, calluses and all foot problems ♦ Call for free brochure on your foot problems at no obligation

Located in The Physicians Centre • 3201 University Dr. East, #100 • Bryan 10

BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD PROVIDER FOR A&M EMPLOYEES • Medicare Accepted • Member Alliance PPO

from page 4

Promise Not to Use Credit Cards This Year

The fun doesn’t stop here.

Think about the holidays all year round. Four years ago, at a January sale, my husband admired a deeply discounted shirt. He asked me to get it for him for Christmas the next year. I stored it in my closet and pulled it out a year later. Get that desktop electric fan for Aunt Molly next September.

Check through your holiday cards and giftwrap supplies now. Pick up more on sale this coming January. If you find sales before then, stock up.

Plan to save throughout the year for next year’s holiday spending. Divide your total holiday spending budget by 12. Set aside that amount each month to get ready for next year. Open a new savings account to separate the spending amount.

Even the most careful money managers can wake up with a Holiday Spending Hangover.

Paying off these bills every month on into the autumn can be unpleasant. By planning ahead and keeping track of your spending, you can enjoy your holidays more and carry that contented feeling into the next year.

Living Life Mina Senior made the decision to move into a retirement community after her husband, George, passed away and she’s glad she made the decision.

“I lived alone in my house for a while, but I got tired of having to worry about the yard and worrying about the house and all those repairs,” Mina said. “So I sold the house and

from page 4 choosing a therapist. For instance, are they members of the State and National professional associations (you can also check the websites for APTA and TPTA for members in your area)? In addition, do they have advanced training/ certifications or education? How long have they been practicing? Do they engage in research or stay current on the newest research in their field? Do they have a specialty license? And so on.

Today more than ever, you are an active participant in your health care treatments make sure you receiving the best care possible.

So how can physical therapy help: 1. Physical therapy treatments can delay or prevent more serious or invasive procedures and/or reduce or eliminate your dependence on medications.

Research demonstrates that individuals who receive physical therapy experience greater improvement in function and decreased pain intensity; that physical therapy, combined with comprehensive medical management, is just as effective as surgery when it comes to relieving the pain and stiffness of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee (Spine, July 2008).

2. Physical therapists can help reduce and manage pain, including low back pain, which affects up to 80 percent of Americans in their lifetime. Physical therapy that mobilizes the spine along with specific exercises can help alleviate the pain and can have long-lasting effects (Spine, July, 2008).

moved into a retirement home.”

This was back in her native Waco where she grew up and worked as a registered nurse for more than 30 years. George had worked at the newspaper in Waco and she was a school nurse, and together they raised their children, Linda and David.

When Linda moved to College Station almost two years ago with her husband, Bruce, she encouraged Mina to relocate as well.

“My daughter came up to me one day and asked me if I wanted to move to Bryan/College Station,” Mina said.

“I told her there wasn’t anything for me in Bryan/College Station and she said, ‘Yes there is. We’re going there and you’re coming too. I’m not going to leave you up here by yourself.’ So we came down here and she said she had a place already picked out.”

That place was Waldenbrooke Estates. Mina said she was very impressed with the place right away.

She was shown several apartments and she was able to pick the one she liked best. The staff got the place ready for her and she moved in.

As nice as the property was, she found out her neighbors were even better. The Waldenbrooke community is the friendliest group of people she’s met and welcomed her with open arms into their extended family.

“I have never been to a place before where you didn’t have to go up to people and introduce yourself to them,” Mina said. “But when I moved in here, everyone came to me and started introducing themselves and making me welcome.”

Now Mina is the one introducing herself to the new residents.

Whether she is welcoming new friends, enjoying movie and game nights or spending time with her

2410 Memorial Drive, Bryan | www.seniorlifestyle.com

3. If you are at risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association encourages seeing a physical therapist for the initial treatment of pain resulting from tendinitis/bursitis, degenerative joint problems (osteoarthritis), and inflammatory joint problems (rheumatoid arthritis), rather than prescription pain medication (Circulation, February, 2007).

Reducing or eliminating the pain, helps the patient become active again.

4. Physical therapists provide care for: a. people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. b. diagnose and treat people of all ages, from newborns to elderly individuals. c. work in tandem with other health care professionals including doctors, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, physician assistants, nurses, podiatrists, and so on.

Blending science with inspiration, your physical therapist will not only evaluate and treat your problem, they will teach you how to prevent or manage a health condition. They will be your partner in achieving long-term health benefits or staying active so you can function optimally. If you have pain, limited mobility, poor balance, muscle weakness or have been taking medications to manage your pain or are facing surgery, talk to a physical therapist and explore the many ways in which a physical therapist can help you. To find out more, see our website BVphysicaltherapy.com, visit the state and national physical therapy associations (www.apta.org; www.tpta.org), talk to your doctor or talk to a physical therapist.

INDEPENDENT RETIREMENT LIVING AT I T S B E S T. • Large 1&2 Bedroom Apartments with Full Kitchen • Walk-in Closets • Dynamic Social & Cultural Programs • Three Full Meals Served Daily • Pet Friendly

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Do your shopping with cash, checks or debit cards. If you are shopping online, you are going to have to use your credit card. But watch your spending budget.

When you use your credit card, write the dollar amount in your check register as if it were a debit card or check purchase.

Also, get back to your initial spending list and write down the amount you have spent next to your items. Keep a running total.

The Rest of the Year

Bradway

October 2011

you will give as gifts. Have something in mind for everyone.

If you are an overachiever, have a backup plan for everyone.

Sometimes you just cannot locate your first choice for Aunt Molly, like that desktop electric fan she longed for during those horridly hot August days.

Be creative and be smart. Do some window-shopping first.

Last week I saw a new copy of a great cookbook at Half Price Books for $9.99. I know I paid $30 for it three years ago. I might go back for that book for a relative. Barnes & Noble sends me discount coupons. I have a friend who loves those colorful little Moleskine notebooks near the register. I’ll wait for those coupons and then stop in for the notebooks.

If you think you might be tempted to use your credit card, get a metal mixing bowl, fill it with water, toss your credit card in and slip that bowl into your freezer.

50plus

Stewart

Call to Learn about our $999 Special on selected units

979.774.1298

4-month-old great grandson, Jackson, Mina Senior is certainly...

Living Life at Waldenbrooke Estates.

11

50plus

TENTH ANNUAL TEXAS MUSHROOM FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Madisonville the Mushroom Capital of Texas

Arts & Crafts Auto Showcase

Quilt Show Shiitake 5K Run/Walk

Kids’ Zone Photo Contest

Texas Wine Tasting, Cooking Demos, and Entertainment 12 Noon until 9:00 p.m.

www.TexasMushroomFestival.com

Find your new home at

Hormone Therapy?

Have you noticed: (check all that apply) Decreased sex drive

Work performance issues

Decreased energy levels

Decreased quality of life

Loss of strength

Changes in body composition

Loss of endurance

Increased recovery time

Sexual performance issues

Decreased mental acuity

Call today to schedule your FREE consultation – 979.316.2951

422 TARROW STREET • COLLEGE STATION • www.nbhlifetimehealth.com

12

PROVIDING BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY & MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR MEN & WOMEN FOR THAN 12 YEARS

2 Y EAR S

12

IN

G1

O

ERVICE

Are you in need of Bioidentical (natural)

C E L E BR A T

BVHomeFinder.com FS

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2011

$10 per person

50plus

Memorial Funeral Chapel Bryan • (979) 823-8125

PROUDLY SPONSOR

October 11, 2011 Medicare Part D

CENTER FOR REGIONAL SERVICES 3991 East 29th Street Bryan, Texas

The Eagle • theeagle.com

November 8, 2011 Different Levels of Care

October 2011

2011 Senior Seminar Series

11:30 a.m. to 1:00p.m.

Call Today to RSVP: Susie Brown or Bobby Gail Jeffries 979-595-2800 ext. 2025 Lite Lunch Provided

13

50plus

CALENDAR October 5

October 2011

Computer Club for Seniors The Computer Club for Seniors is free and open to everyone. The club meets from 9:00 - 10:30 am at the Carter’s Creek Training Room located at 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station. No registration required. The topic is “How to shop online”. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email: mrodgers@cstx.gov

October 6 AARP Driver Safety Program Class - 1 - 5 pm, The Senior Circle,1651 Rock Prairie Rd, second floor, C. S. Please call (979) 764-5107 for registration. Students receive a certificate that most insurance companies recognize for a discount on their liability insurance premium. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 11

14

Senior World Passport Program “Mongolia” - The Office of International Outreach at Texas

A&M and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services invite you to come and enjoy this free program for senior adults. We will explore Mongolia on Wednesday at 10 am at Southwood Community Center located at 1520 Rock Prairie Rd. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Dept., Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or Kim Fox at 979-862-6700.

October 13

Senior Fall Fest - Veteran’s Park from 4 - 7 pm “A Fall picnic in the park” for all senior adults. Enjoy Free hamburgers, entertainment, games, door prizes and cake walk. For more information, please contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

October 18

Movie and popcorn - Enjoy a movie and popcorn on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center located at 1520 Rock Prairie Rd. Contact Southwood Community Center at 764-6351 for movie title or

College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

October 19

Birding and Photography Presentation - 1 pm at Southwood Community Center. Learn the art of photographing birds with A.D. Patton. Free. For more information, please contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Exploring History Lunch Lecture Series - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present: “ Allenfarm – Four Generations” presented by Bill Terrell at the College Station Conference Center located at 1300 George Bush Dr. Lunch is served at 11:30 am with a reservation. Cost is $5 and payable at the door. Speaker begins at noon.

Please call 979-764-6351 or e-mail kkelbly@cstx.gov. to make your reservation by Friday, October 14.

October 26

Senior World Passport Program “Saudi Arabia” - The Office of International Outreach at

Texas A&M and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services invite you to come and enjoy this free program for senior adults. We will explore Saudi Arabia on Wednesday at 10:00 am at Southwood Community Center located at 1520 Rock Prairie Rd. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Dept., Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or Kim Fox at 979-862-6700.

October 27

Halloween Dance for Senior Adults - College Station Conference Center from 5:30 pm - 7:30 “Put on Your costume and Join the fun” FREE! For more information, please contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

October 28

BINGO - Please join us for Bingo on the last Friday of every month starting at 1 pm at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Rd. Prizes provided by At Home Health Care. Refreshments served. Contact Southwood Community Center at 764-6351 for more information or College Station

Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

October 31

Senior Advisory Committee regular meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of each month at 10:00 am at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Rd. Visitors are welcome to attend. For more information contact College Station Parks & Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov

Volunteer Opportunity

University Art Galleries TAMU - The University Art Galleries Department is currently recruiting docents. Docents are energetic, friendly, articulate volunteers who learn about the collections, help plan special events, give tours, and offer general support to the UART programs on the campus of Texas A&M University. An informational and training meeting will be held for incoming docents in the Fall 2011 semester. To learn more about the docent program or to attain an application, e-mail uart@uart.tamu. edu or call 979-845-8501.

50plus

WATERCREST AT BRYAN – SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE putting green, horse shoes, walking trails, dog park and the Wi-Fi coffee bistro shop are all available for residents. The professional staff and concierge are there to assist with any personal arrangements, including transportation services and community information. We take the work and worry out of your daily routine so you can enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Watercrest at Bryan offers resortstyle living on 16 scenic acres. The campus features 205 independent living apartments for lease in one-, two, and three-bedroom floor plans. The community, developed by Integrated Real Estate Group, is located at 3801 East Crest Drive Bryan (near the corner of University Drive and Boonville).

The Eagle • theeagle.com

benefits like the moving coordination program that truly shows the quality and care the residents of Watercrest can take advantage of.”

“Convenience and flexibility is now added with our new addition - The Isle at Watercrest a stand alone Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing building now open and located adjacent to Watercrest at Bryan Active Adult Living campus,” said Jennifer Rust, Marketing and Leasing Director, of Watercrest at Bryan. “It’s also the added peace of mind knowing we have healthcare available on campus with priority access for all Independent Living residents who transfer to the Isle at Watercrest.”

The comfort and companionship can be found within the Watercrest at Bryan’s Active Adult Community. The facility’s 13,000 square-foot clubhouse features a heated saltwater pool, hair/nail salon, media library, learning center, fitness center ,water aerobics, group fitness classes, personal trainer, art and crafts classroom center, massage therapy,

October 2011

BRYAN, Texas, October 5, 2011: Watercrest at Bryan is the Brazos Valley’s newest and most celebrated Retirement Community, voted 2010 & 2011 Best of the Brazos and The Eagles Reader’s Choice for 2011: ‘Best Active Adult Living’.

Watercrest provides resort-style and maintenance-free living at an affordable price, with the goal of simplifying life. Watercrest at Bryan has announced a moving coordination program designed to help take care of all the moving and packing expense while residents enjoy and experience the Watercrest lifestyle. Watercrest will provide moving reimbursements toward your moving costs, if you lease and move in by November 15th. Prices start at $1275.

For more information and details, please call today scheduled tour (979)703 -7088 or visit www.watercrestbryan.com.

“The value of living at Watercrest at Bryanismorethanthebeautifulapartment homes, and first-rate activities,” said Janice McAlister Community Director, of Watercrest at Bryan. “It’s the added

BRING THIS IN TO WAIVE YOUR $750 COMMUNITY FEE! Call 979.703.7088 to make an appointment.

3801 East Crest Drive • Bryan, TX 77802 • www.watercrestbryan.com (near the corner of University Drive and Boonville Road)

EXPIRES OCTOBER 31ST

15

50plus October 2011 The Eagle • theeagle.com

u.o.u.

YOU GIVE SO MUCH OF YOURSELF TO OTHERS. IT’S TIME TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.

Schedule your mammogram today.

Visit the experienced experts in early detection: • State-of-the-art technology • Dedicated team of specialists • Comprehensive care from diagnosis to treatment • Patient-centered care for the mind and body Saturday appointments available on October 1, 8, 15 or 22

979-691-3049 uou.sw.org 16